EIGHT SHIPS FROM ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL TO CALL EUROPE HOME IN SUMMER 2010

Bumper season reflects cruise line’s expansion in British and Irish market 

A massive eight ships from the Royal Caribbean International’s fleet will sail in Europe during 2010 with favourite Mediterranean and Canary Island breaks featuring heavily in a new Europe and Mediterranean brochure. The new brochure, packed with cruise options for summer 2010, also confirms that Independence of the Seas will return to Southampton for the third successive year.

All cruises for Summer 2010 go on sale on 12 March 2009.

The new brochure is broken up into sections dedicated to different holiday choices such as short European breaks, winter sun and traditional 14-night breaks. Agents will also find pages of short cruise options designed for first time cruisers to sample an at-sea holiday option. Plus, agents can pass on early booking savings of up to £400 to their clients for cruises booked before 31 July 2009.

Mark Walter, head of field sales, Royal Caribbean International, explained:

“Independence of the Seas has changed the perception of cruising in the UK and Ireland leading both agents and consumers alike to re-appraise how to get a great value holiday in Europe and the Mediterranean. Our 2010 brochure is packed with cruise options for every type of holidaymaker and our sales team is working hard to ensure that Royal Caribbean International remains the favourite mainstream cruise line of travel agents. We are confident that the mixture of great itineraries, new destinations and fun onboard experience, will make 2010 another strong year for the brand.”

Highlights include:

Confirmation of the return of Independence of the Seas to Southampton in summer 2010 offering short cruises to Le Havre (Paris) and Cork, as well as 14-night Mediterranean options and ten-night Canary Island cruises. Prices from £409 per person for a three-night short cruise including an overnight stay in Le Havre (Paris)

Short four-night cruises from Oslo to either Hamburg or Amsterdam onboard Vision of the Seas. Prices start from £659 per person for a four-night fly/cruise

Adventure of the Seas offering short Mediterranean cruises based from Malaga (Spain) for the first time. Cruises start at £629 per person for five-night French Riviera fly/cruise.

Weekly seven-night Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona onboard Voyager of the Seas available from £1,249 per person featuring Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno), Nice and Marseilles.

Seven and 12-night Eastern Mediterranean featuring the best of the Greek Islands and Turkey from Navigator of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas. A seven-night Greek Isles and Turkey fly/cruise starts from £1,149 per person onboard Splendour of the Seas.

12-night Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean winter sun options onboard Brilliance of the Seas featuring Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt, as well as Sicily, Greece and Malta. Prices start from £1,099 per person for a fly/cruise with cruise departing Barcelona.

Scandinavia and Russia cruises including overnight in St Petersburg from Harwich onboard Jewel of the Seas. Prices for a 12-night cruise-only itinerary start from £1,549 per person

Plus, the new brochure also includes the new 2010 Dubai fly/cruises from Brilliance of the Seas. The ship will be the first Royal Caribbean International ship to be based in the Middle East from January to April 2010. Featuring Muscat in Oman, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Mina Sulman in Bahrain, the new eight-night fly/cruises also include overnight stays in Dubai onboard the ship.

Royal Caribbean International 2010 Europe and the Mediterranean cruises go on sale on 12 March 2009. An early booking saving of £200 per person (£400 per stateroom) on selected 14-night cruises, and £100 per person (£200 per stateroom) on selected sailings of seven – 13 nights is available on cruises booked before 31 July 2009.